I can't stay motivated.

Stand nude before a mirror, completely relaxed. Do you like what you see? That should be al the motivation you need.

If you know everything about food/exercise etc., then why would you be overweight and have a problem with it?

Some tough love here: You don't know as much as you think you do.

As for motivation, that's an internal thing. It's going to come down to how important it is to you. The less important, the more you'll find excuses not to excel or achieve. And vice versa.

Probably help if you wrote down your pros and cons of why you want to do this and look at it objectively then decide on what plan of action you put together to achieve it.

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I can understand. I wasn't taught "healthy eating" growing up. So I am trying to teach myself. One day at a time. One meal at a time. You can do this. You just have to figure out your reason "WHY"

I have had the similar struggles as you. The struggle will go on, but you can reduce it to a large extent.

1. Don't try to stop eating pizza or whatever you like to eat. Bad habits cannot be eliminated by thinking about them. Instead, start eating healthy food first and then eat pizza. That's the first step to getting healthier. Eat a big salad and then eat pizza. You will not be able to eat as much. If you like to drink coke with your pizza, it's ok. Don't order the coke or pour it for yourself until you've eaten most of your pizza. Then pour an 8oz glass and drink it. No more.

2. Start researching on the hazards of eating processed food. Knowledge is power. Research deep and look for how soda can be bad for your health. Read about everything you eat. Find out detailed nutritional information about all the food items you love to eat today.

3. Start exercising a little bit EVERYDAY. 15 minutes on the treadmill - just walk for the first 2 weeks. Then maybe increase it to 20 minutes. Develop good habits.

The only way to fight bad habits is to start replacing them with good one's, a little bit at a time. If you simply try to eliminate bad habits, it doesn't work! It gets worse. Trust me you can win! You may fail multiple times, but it's ok as long as you keep coming back and trying again. One day, could be years from now, but if you keep at it, you will finally overcome the bad habits.

I guess I eat junk food because i've ate it my whole life. Its a comfort to me. I feel like a part of me is missing whehn I dont eat junk food, which is why I can never stick at it for more than a week. I don't really have any emotions when eating junk food. Its just going in. On one hand I know I need to stop eating like this and I want to, more than ever. But on the other hand I can't. I can't let go of junk food... Its a port of me. Ugh

It's comfort eating, you need to find something else that makes you happy instead of eating. It could just be using the computer and not snacking or chillin outside I suppose. You can still have junk food, my whole diary is made of junk food lol, but you gotta do it in moderation. I sometimes go over, but usually it's not substantial like Saturday, but those days happen too.

My old motivation when I was younger was watching Supersize vs. Superskinny, it's more of a shock thing than motivation I suppose? Made that hunger go away.

Get some friends who can provide you with support plus what the others said.

You are only 19, bit its still old enough where you cna make a decision as to whats good for you and why.

I like the ideas of incorportaing a little fast food, but it has to fit with your deficit and has to be workable. Id focus on the eating well and sensibly first. It probably means eating smarter than the crash diet you described earlier. You need a different approach form previous efforts and understanding your own motivation and reasons will help you focus.

Baby steps first just keep going and make sure its in the right direction.

I believe in starting where you are. Start by logging whatever you are eating - regardless of how many calories. Expect it to be over the set goals. Just start there and then find something you can change to make it better. That's where I started.

I am far from always motivated. I've even quit twice for up to 2 weeks and resumed. I've built the plan that I can live with - not the one somebody else thinks I should do. It's slow and comfortable. I think we make big mistakes when we think it has to be hard to work. I don't believe it's all or nothing. I don't believe I need to be perfect or quit. I believe I'm in it for the distance. I believe I will make more changes - as I go. I know sometimes I have to relax and sometimes I get more rigid, but it keeps me on the path in the end.

Friend me if you like.

Maybe make your own pizza? I sometimes buy premade bases, cut in half and just load up that with pretty virtuous stuff. That way theres no other half left all cooked and yummy to tempt you when you're really full and you can weigh and log all the ingredients, reduce cheese etc to keep under your limits. I agree with the eating something low cal first too, i've used homemade veg soup or salad to take the edge off the munchies. The thing thats really got me off the takeaway junk food is realising that though i really enjoyed choosing and ordering, after the first few mouthfuls it was never all that great, yet i'd keep eating and then feel overfilled, horrible and guilty. And make sure you've got healthy food in at home thats ready to eat so easier and quicker that reaching for th etakeaway menu. Good luck

I think a little bit of what you fancy does you no harm. The bad stuff needs to be limited. Why don't you allow your self a treat once or twice a week, then you wont feel your missing out and cave in. x

I love pizza too but now I have it rarely so I can have a real treat. I'm trying (it's working slowly) to eat less chocolate for similar reasons.

I started thinking about the fact that I'm now treating my body by eating less crap, if you get me.

Well, maybe you need some CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or something so you won't emotionally eat? Maybe find a counselor who can help with this (even if it's online, but I don't know where, sorry).

Keep trying!